The Iowa West Foundation seeks to foster belonging, financial stability, and opportunity by supporting housing for all, education with purpose, and recreation for wellbeing in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie County, and the southwest Iowa region.
Voices & VisionThis past year, Iowa West & the Council Bluffs Chamber collaborated to gather data and community input to understand Council Bluffs’ growth challenges, and receive feedback on ideas for the path forward. The results were shared at a public event on Oct. 29th, 2025.
Rural SummitView the presentations from the 2025 Rural Summit held in Oakland.
Through thousands of ideas shared in community Imagine Hour listening sessions, four core outcomes emerged to form a picture of vibrant, successful communities.
If you are a Council Bluffs resident, up to $200 grants are available to support events that build community and strengthen connections.
The Iowa West Foundation’s strategic visioning is centered by community listening and engagement. View our Imagine Hours Progress Report to learn more.
Learn more about the major projects we’ve funded over the years, through videos, first-hand success stories, interactive links, and more.
Council Bluffs is home to 12 large -scale outdoor art pieces scattered throughout the city and available to the public 24/7. You can hear from the artists who created each piece by downloading the free Otocast app.
Investments in novel approaches will keep people housed and families fed Council Bluffs, IA – The Iowa West Foundation board of directors recently approved $2 million in grant and initiative funding to 24 nonprofits and cities throughout southwest Iowa, with a focus on the most basic needs: food, clothing, and shelter. “Many in our community […]
View Post From Preschool to Home Repairs, Iowa West Grants Strengthen Families and Futures As southwest Iowa students prepare to head back to school this fall, they can do so knowing a multitude of unique enrichment opportunities await, thanks in part to numerous Iowa West Foundation grants to local nonprofits. The Iowa West Foundation board of directors […]
View PostFrom murals to main streets, fire stations to childcare centers—rural communities across Pottawattamie County are thriving thanks to local partnerships and the support of the Iowa West Foundation. This video celebrates the people, places, and projects shaping the future of small-town Iowa. Hear directly from residents, business owners, and local leaders as they share what […]
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The Iowa West Foundation, Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, and City of Council Bluffs—together with the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s Center for Public Affairs Research—are conducting the Council Bluffs Area Survey to better understand what attracts people to live and work in our community and what supports long-term satisfaction and success. Why this matters: […]
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